Breakdown of Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny.
Questions & Answers about Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny.
Polish possessive adjectives agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case.
- dziadek is a masculine singular noun in the nominative case.
- The masculine singular nominative form of mój is mój.
Compare:
- mój dziadek – my grandfather (masc.)
- moja babcia – my grandmother (fem.)
- moje dziecko – my child (neuter)
The form dziadek is nominative singular, which is the case normally used for the subject of the sentence.
- In Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny, dziadek is the subject: My grandfather is proud and calm.
You would use dziadka (genitive or accusative) in other contexts, for example:
- Nie mam dziadka. – I don’t have a grandfather. (genitive)
- Widzę dziadka. – I see (my) grandfather. (accusative)
In standard Polish, with an adjective like dumny or spokojny, you must use a form of być (to be) in the present tense:
- Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny. – correct
- Mój dziadek dumny i spokojny. – sounds incomplete / wrong in normal speech
Polish can sometimes drop jest or use to with nouns (not adjectives), e.g.:
- Mój dziadek to lekarz. – My grandfather is a doctor.
But with adjectives that describe a quality (proud, calm, tall, tired, etc.), you keep jest.
Adjectives in Polish agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.
- dziadek – masculine singular, nominative
- So adjectives that describe him must also be masculine singular nominative: dumny, spokojny
Other forms (same pattern):
- dumna, spokojna – feminine (e.g. Moja babcia jest dumna i spokojna.)
- dumne, spokojne – neuter
- dumni, spokojni – masculine personal plural (for groups including at least one male person)
- dumne, spokojne – non-masculine-personal plural (e.g. groups of things, animals, only women)
Most often, dumny is neutral or positive:
- Mój dziadek jest dumny ze swoich wnuków. – proud of his grandchildren (positive)
However, context can make it sound more negative, closer to “haughty / conceited”:
- On jest zbyt dumny, żeby przeprosić. – He’s too proud to apologize.
So, just like English proud, dumny can be positive or slightly negative depending on context.
Spokojny covers several English words; the exact translation depends on context:
- calm, not easily upset:
- On jest bardzo spokojny. – He’s very calm.
- quiet, not loud or active:
- To spokojne dziecko. – That’s a quiet child.
- peaceful:
- To spokojna okolica. – It’s a peaceful area.
In Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny, it most naturally means he has a calm, composed character.
Yes, Polish allows flexible word order, but it can change emphasis:
Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny.
- neutral, standard statement
Dumny i spokojny jest mój dziadek.
- puts more emphasis on dumny i spokojny (the qualities), then identifies who has them
Mój dziadek dumny i spokojny jest.
- possible in poetry or very expressive speech; sounds unusual in everyday talk
For learners, stick to the neutral Mój dziadek jest dumny i spokojny.
babcia (grandma) is feminine. Adjectives and the possessive must match that:
- moja babcia – my grandmother (feminine)
- jest dumna – she is proud (feminine form of dumny)
- i spokojna – and calm (feminine form of spokojny)
So you get:
- Moja babcia jest dumna i spokojna.
You need plural forms for everything:
- mój → moi (my – masculine personal plural)
- dziadek → dziadkowie (grandfathers)
- jest → są (are)
- dumny, spokojny → dumni, spokojni (masculine personal plural)
So the full sentence is:
- Moi dziadkowie są dumni i spokojni.
dziadek can mean both:
- grandfather – neutral, can be used in narration:
- Mój dziadek mieszka na wsi. – My grandfather lives in the countryside.
- grandpa – when addressing or talking about him affectionately, depending on context and tone.
Even more affectionate forms:
- dziadzio, dziadziu – like “grandpa / granddad”
- dziadziuś – very affectionate, like “granddaddy”
But dziadek itself is completely normal and common, neither very formal nor very childish.